World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesColourful language
/ˈkʌl.əfəl ˈlæŋ.ɡwɪdʒ/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
Words or phrases that include profanity, swearing, or vulgarity, often used to express strong emotion.
"He used some colourful language when he stubbed his toe against the heavy table leg." - 2
Speech that is exceptionally vivid, picturesque, or emotionally expressive.
"The veteran sailor entertained the crowd with colourful language describing his voyages."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
The term combines 'colourful', used metaphorically since the 19th century to denote vivid, striking, or picturesque qualities, with 'language' derived from Old French 'langage' and Latin 'lingua' (tongue). Over time, the application shifted specifically to refer to speech spiced with profanity, obscenity, or strong idioms.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Colourful language"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Colourful language" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
gros mots
Transliteration: gro mo
"Il a employé des gros mots quand il s'est fâché."
deftige Sprache
Transliteration: deftige ˈʃpʁaːxə
"Er benutzte eine deftige Sprache, als er sich ärgerte."
termini coloriti
Transliteration: ˈtɛrmini koliˈriti
"Ha usato termini coloriti quando ha perso le staffe."
lenguaje malsonante
Transliteration: leŋˈxwaXe malsoˈnante
"Usó un lenguaje malsonante cuando se enojó."
palavrões
Transliteration: palaˈvɾõis
"Ele usou palavrões quando bateu o pé."
अपशब्द
Transliteration: apshabd
Script: हिंदी देवनागरी
"गुस्से में उसने कुछ अपशब्दों का प्रयोग किया।"
粗话
Transliteration: cūhuà
Script: 中文汉字
"他生气时说了一些粗话。"
욕설
Transliteration: yokseol
Script: 한국어 한글
"그는 화가 나서 욕설을 내뱉었다."
汚い言葉
Transliteration: kitanai kotoba
Script: 日本語
"彼は怒って汚い言葉を使った。"
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